“If You Can’t Bear My Mistress, We Can Swap Newtons”- So I Married His Worst Rival At the Wedding Chapter 03

“If You Can’t Bear My Mistress, We Can Swap Newtons”- So I Married His Worst Rival At the Wedding Chapter 03

The Hales were in a major business crisis back then. No one wanted to tie their family to a sinking ship.

But I chose him anyway.

Not for any big reason. It was because my half-brother—the affair kid—called my mom a short-lived loser at my birthday party.

Preston didn’t hesitate. He beat that kid half to death.

When my dad forgot my birthday to spend it with his mistress, I sat at my mom’s grave all night. Preston stood there holding an umbrella the whole time.

The umbrella covered me and her headstone. He turned into a drowned rat.

By dawn, his hands were shaking.

My heart moved a little. I took the handkerchief without thinking and wiped my face.

The next second, my eyes burned like crazy. My nose stung so bad I couldn’t take it.

Tears and snot just poured out of me.

Laughter exploded around me.

I forced my eyes open. Saw everyone else walking over with Tessa.

“How’s that extra-strength ghost pepper sauce? Oh my God, Sloane looks so ugly right now.”

“Preston said she made Tessa cry and wouldn’t apologize. So he made her cry instead.”

“Preston fed her a few lies and she ate it up. What an idiot.”

Tessa ran to me with some tissues.

“Sloane, are you okay? I tried to stop him, but he was so upset for me…”

I finally got my eyes clean. And noticed the diamond on her ring finger.

I grabbed her wrist. My voice came out hoarse.

“What is that?”

Preston dropped nine figures on that stone. I designed the rings myself. Had a custom jeweler make them. Six months to finish those matching engagement rings.

Preston had been holding onto them. Said it proved we were a team. Said he’d slip them on my fingers at the wedding.

And now it was on another woman’s hand.

Tessa started crying again.

“I’m sorry. I just wanted to know what it felt like to wear a ring with him.”

“I—I’ll give it back…”

She tried to pull it off. Couldn’t get it past her knuckle. Looked so helpless.

Preston grabbed her hand, his face angry.

“Sloane, enough. I can’t marry Tessa. I already owe her that much. So what if she wears the ring?”

“There are plenty of rings out there. I’ll pay you back the design fee and labor.”

“This is just a business arrangement. You’re still going to be Mrs. Hale. Don’t act like you’re losing anything.”

I’m not an emotional person.

But my chest still felt tight.

That day at my mom’s grave, I’d said to Preston, “Go home. You don’t have to go through with this marriage. I’ll help your family anyway, for standing in the rain with my mom.”

Preston had smiled.

“You don’t have to help me. But I’m marrying you.”

“I know you’re proud and tough and you don’t lean on anyone. But here’s the thing—the rain stopped, and I still wanna be the guy holding the umbrella for you. Keep you dry when it rains. Shade you when the sun’s too much.”

When he said that, a drop of water fell from his hair.

And made a ripple right across my heart.

I helped him with everything. I said yes to the wedding. I thought we were giving each other something real.

Now he said we were just using each other.

Someone complained about the cold and suggested the hot springs. Everyone headed to their cars.

Tessa got into Preston’s passenger seat, her eyes wet.

“Sloane, I really never meant to hurt you.”

“I’m just too upset right now. I can’t be around you. Can you please get back on your own?”